We already know that the country has turned another age in all, but we already know that the struggle indeed continues. And yes if you’re Black, you might had been called out being a sellout all because you wore the Red/White/Blue instead of the Red/Black/Green. Or you might have sang the National Anthem without any concern except the fact the third verse had a racial thing attached. But as we put away the fireworks in all, I’m scratching my head again.

Did anyone actually read the Declaration? I mean really?

Black folks, we know about the slavery side of 1776, but what about those whom served in both armies that guranteed freedom? Yes blacks did served under the flag back then.

I was reading Sophia A. Nelson’s book, E Plurbis One, and two of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were against slavery. Did you know this?

With all the parades in America, why not enough black folks?

Frederick Douglass’ speech “What to the slave mean to the Fourth of July?” is like a call out to the hypocritical attitude of being free for most, not many. Any questions on that?

I hear folks saying, “that flag wasn’t meant for us!” What flag is?

Why do certain folks scream out “Fourth of You Lie?!”

And also to add, what are you celebrating? Like really.

How come we didn’t point out the verse “No heirling for a slave” before like last year?

Was Whitney Houston’s version of the Star Spangled Banner from 1991 the best ever?

Was Marvin Gaye’s Star Spangled Banner from 1983 good?

What about Jimi Hendrix’s version of the Anthem?

Which Team USA Basketball team was better: 1992 or 2008? 92 all the way!

Can the hashtag #MelalinPatriot be a thing to follow? Melalin relates to black by the way.

We know that Philly throws 4th of July Celebrations alot. But can Milwaukee have a 4th of July party concerts with the locals musicians?

And now for the final question: Don’t be offended by the picture.

Relax and breathe.

Black folks: we know already that many of us don’t really celebrate the 4th Of July by an example of the memes below. And yes our ancestors were in shackles, branded, whipped, had no freedom, no liberty, no justice, no peace to be us. We were stripped from our former names to get the names like Toby. We were forced to be bought and paid in auctions, but like Cicely Tyson said in one of Tyler Perry’s movie Madeas Family Reunion: “Now it’s time to take your place!” We also have this tendency to tell folks not to celebrate the 4th all because our ancestors were slaves. We weren’t beaten. But the legality of those beatings linger into police brutality, racism, sexism, discrimination among minorities, and others. We get sensitive when we see our brothers and sisters wearing red white and blue and shake our heads. Why?!!!!

If a black man or a black woman wants to celebrate the 4th in a way different, LET THEM CELEBRATE! I was listening to one of my local black radio hosts on WNOV. There was a black female caller who expressed about the celebrations of Juneteenth Day. However she also expressed about celebrating the Fourth of July. As we all know from her comment that this country was built on the backs of us Black folks either as slaves and freed people. We definitely know this and should know. And the thing is we always hear about us going back to Africa. Well many people forget, not too many in Africa like us African-Americans maybe because many of us haven’t been there! Many forget that part of the slavetrade, came out of Africa which was a forgotten comment! And of course, America ate up the idea of slavery and served it until 1865, when the slaves were declared free. According to Vibe.com, Roland Martin was on the Wendy Williams Show last year (after she talked smack about the HBCU’S), cited that black people were “technically free”:

If you had to place a marker on when black folks were technically fully free Americans, it’s 1970.

So as I look at this meme with the word Independence spelled wrong, (don’t blame the Public Schools) a Tupac pic, and all the talk about Juneteenth Day being celebrated and something forgotten, and with the ongoing crimes, racism, sexism, discrimination, police brutality, war against blacks lives, undocumented murders against black folks and many other concerns, I must ASK this:

Have we fully gained our Independence? And after celebrating Juneteenth, did we fully gained OUR freedom? Let that sink in.

Callout: Freedom is still not free. Even after 241 years. And even after 152 years. Let’s be real, the struggle to get to that freedom thing is going to take a four letter word of WORK!

And by the way if a black man or woman or kid wants to celebrate BOTH the Fourth and Juneteenth, even if you fly the flags, let them. Just let them. Some folks celebrate their birthdays on the days. Or a anniversary. Or whatever. Let’s be clear. For those of us whom are so conscious and woke, look: your opinions are just that. With all due respect. Let the folks whom are “Melanin Powered” have their day. Leave them alone! No one is not forcing you to celebrate the holiday. Where as you should not force anyone to say “Remember and celebrate Juneteenth Day!” Trust me you will not win that argument. You say that forcefully and folks will still sleep. I mean correct me if I’m wrong that isn’t one of the Bill of Rights has the words, “Freedom of Expression” in it? Hey, let that sink in! And this applies to us like everyday.